House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) launched a sharp attack Tuesday on President Trump's decision to install Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, arguing the move jeopardizes national security and any chance of a bipartisan agreement to renew the government's surveillance powers.
“The appointment of Bill Pulte as the acting director of National Intelligence is another indication of how unserious, reckless and dangerous Donald Trump and his administration are with respect to the national security of the American people,” Jeffries told reporters at the Capitol.
The controversy unfolds as congressional leaders from both parties scramble to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which permits warrantless surveillance of foreigners abroad. The law faces opposition from lawmakers on both sides who argue it fails to adequately protect U.S. citizens' privacy when their communications are inadvertently collected. Jeffries warned that Pulte's ascent at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) could derail negotiations ahead of the June 12 deadline.
“Bill Pulte is deeply unserious, deeply dangerous and deeply unqualified. His supposed elevation as the acting Director of National Intelligence will jeopardize the effort to pass surveillance legislation that was already on life support,” Jeffries said. He added, “Why in the world should Democrats — or any member of Congress — trust Donald Trump, Kash Patel or Bill Pulte with the privacy of the American people?”
Pulte, who currently leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, is a staunch Trump loyalist. He has used his position to accuse political opponents—including Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook—of mortgage fraud. He replaces Tulsi Gabbard, who stepped down last month after her husband was diagnosed with cancer.
The acting DNI is a scion of one of America's largest homebuilding families but has no background in national security, law enforcement, or the military. That lack of experience has drawn criticism even from some Republicans. “We don't need a weaponized DNI, we need professionals there,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) warned Tuesday. Thune's comments echo broader concerns about politicizing the intelligence community, as highlighted in his recent remarks against a weaponized intelligence chief.
Because Pulte serves in an acting capacity, he does not require Senate confirmation, and Trump has not indicated plans to nominate him for the permanent role. That distinction has done little to calm bipartisan unease on the Hill, where lawmakers question his ability to oversee the 18 agencies that comprise the U.S. intelligence apparatus.
“What qualifies Bill Pulte to hold one of the most important national security positions for the United States of America? One thing, apparently: That Bill Pulte is willing to say anything, or do anything, that Donald Trump demands no matter how reckless, vengeful or unlawful Donald Trump's demand may be,” Jeffries said. The controversy has fueled Democratic outrage over Trump's pick of a housing chief to lead intelligence, while some GOP senators have privately expressed alarm.
